Selects: The Tale of the Church of the SubGenius

In this episode of "Stuff You Should Know," Josh and Chuck delve into the Church of the SubGenius, a pseudo-religion and social commentary movement founded by Ivan Stang and Philo Drummond. They explore the origins of the church, its key figures like J.R. "Bob" Dobbs, and core concepts such as "slack" and the "conspiracy." The hosts discuss the church's satirical take on consumer culture, conformity, and the exploitation of individuals, while also addressing its evolution, schisms, and the fine line between humor and genuine belief. They touch upon the influence of the church on pop culture and the challenges it faced as the world began to mirror its own satire. The episode concludes with a brief listener mail segment.